Isa 57:5-7, Hos 4:13 | JFB | e4.org | 5. Enflaming yourselves —burning with lust towards idols [GESENIUS ]; or else (compare Margin ), in the terebinth groves, which the Hebrew and the parallelism favor (see on ) [MAURER ]. under . . . tree — ( ). The tree, as in the Assyrian sculptures, was probably made an idolatrous symbol of the heavenly hosts. slaying . . . children —as a sacrifice to Molech, &c. ( ). in . . . valleys —the valley of the son of Hinnom. Fire was put within a hollow brazen statue, and the child was put in his heated arms; kettle drums ( Hebrew, toph ) were beaten to drown the child's cries; whence the valley was called Tophet ( ). under . . . clifts —the gloom of caverns suiting their dark superstitions.

‏ Isaiah 57:5-7

5. Enflaming yourselves—burning with lust towards idols [GESENIUS]; or else (compare Margin), in the terebinth groves, which the Hebrew and the parallelism favor (see on Isa 1:29) [MAURER].

under . . . tree— (2Ki 17:10). The tree, as in the Assyrian sculptures, was probably made an idolatrous symbol of the heavenly hosts.

slaying . . . children—as a sacrifice to Molech, &c. (2Ki 17:31; 2Ch 28:3; 33:6).

in . . . valleys—the valley of the son of Hinnom. Fire was put within a hollow brazen statue, and the child was put in his heated arms; kettle drums (Hebrew, toph) were beaten to drown the child's cries; whence the valley was called Tophet (2Ch 33:6; Jer 7:3).

under . . . clifts—the gloom of caverns suiting their dark superstitions.

6. The smooth stones, shaped as idols, are the gods chosen by thee as thy portion (Ps 16:5).

meat offering—not a bloody sacrifice, but one of meal and flour mingled with oil. "Meat" in Old English meant food, not flesh, as it means now (Le 14:10).

Should I receive comfort—rather, "Shall I bear these things with patience?" [HORSLEY].

7. Upon . . . high mountain . . . bed—image from adultery, open and shameless (Eze 23:7); the "bed" answers to the idolatrous altar, the scene of their spiritual unfaithfulness to their divine husband (Eze 16:16, 25; 23:41).

‏ Hosea 4:13

13. upon . . . mountains—High places were selected by idolaters on which to sacrifice, because of their greater nearness to the heavenly hosts which they worshipped (De 12:2).

elms—rather, "terebinths" [MAURER].

shadow . . . good—screening the lascivious worshippers from the heat of the sun.

daughters . . . commit whoredom . . . spouses . . . adultery—in the polluted worship of Astarte, the Ph nician goddess of love.